Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) announced the launch of “Ajman, Your Joyful Summer Staycation” campaign from 25 July until 10 September 2021 where hotels, shopping centers, and touris-tic destinations will be presenting their exclusive summer offers and dis-counts.   This campaign, organized by ATDD for the second year in a row, aims to highlight the distinct landmarks, facilities, attractions, and hotels across Ajman, in addition to promoting domestic tourism and encouraging tour-ists to select the emirate as their safe and preferred destination. The “Ajman, Your Joyful Summer Staycation” campaign will be presenting enticing events, exclusive offers on hotel accommodations, and huge dis-counts on various products and services, as well as recreational activities that fulfill the desires of both residents and visitors of Ajman.   The campaign aims to provide a memorable experience for tourists by of-fering a wide range of travel offers such as special packages for hotel ac-commodations, discounts on hotel services for up to 50%, and deals on restaurants, spas, activities, and outdoor adventures, in addition to the chance of winning a car when shopping at City Centre Ajman.   “Ajman, Your Joyful Summer Staycation” heavily focuses on supporting and promoting domestic tourism, and the Ajman Tourism Development Department is fully committed to launching exceptional initiatives and create a unique yet diverse travel experience that lives to the expectations of all the visitors and tourists.   It is to be noted that the emirate of Ajman is rich with touristic elements that contribute in attracting tourists, such as long pristine beaches, vibrant art scenes, diverse world cuisines to satisfy all tastes, and encompasses a multitude of unique travel destinations, and a wide variety of activities and adventures …

Saudi Arabia will reopen its borders to international tourists from 1 August 2021. Tourism visa holders who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be able to enter the country from 1 August 2021 without the need to quarantine. Travelers will need to provide evidence of a full course of one the four vaccines currently recognized: two doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of the vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson. Travelers who have completed two doses of the Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines will be accepted if they have received an additional dose of one of the four vaccines approved in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has opened a web portal at https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/home for visitors to register their vaccination status. The site is available in Arabic and English. Travelers arriving in Saudi Arabian are also required to provide a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure and an approved paper vaccination certificate, certified by the official health authorities in the issuing country. To accommodate travelers, Saudi has upgraded Tawakkalna, the country’s award-winning track and trace app, to allow temporary visitors to register with their passport details. Tawwakalna is required for entry to many public places in Saudi, including shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants and entertainment venues. The announcement comes almost eighteen months after international tourism into Saudi Arabia was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia launched the tourism e-visa program in September 2019. “Saudi is looking forward to reopening its doors and its hearts to international visitors,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA). “During the shutdown we have working in close collaboration with our partners in …

A short haul destination from the UAE, Albania announced it has opened for tourism and started welcoming travelers especially from the GCC. The Republic of Albania further announced its participation to Expo 2020 Dubai, aiming to reintroduce the country’s culture, heritage, traditions, economical opportunities, and tourism to the United Arab Emirates and other international attendees of the rescheduled global event from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 in Dubai, UAE. In an interview with Iris Media, Mr. Taulant Balla, the Majority Group Leader of the Parliament of Republic of Albania shared the views and goals of Albania in attending Expo 2020 Dubai. “We have faced the same economic and tourism impact that the world experienced. As we understood how nobody knows when will this last, we are aiming to have the world expo as a platform to place Albania back to its position. It is a challenging goal but through partnerships with international relations and strengthened cooperation with the UAE, our aim is to go at the same level we were in 2019 before the pandemic.” One of the primary goals of Albania is to boost the tourism sector after it has re-opened its borders and started welcoming back international tourists. Through an effective vaccination program implemented in the country where every citizen and resident of Albania are obligated to be dosed with their choice of vaccines from Pfizer, Astrazenica, Sputnik, and Sinovac, the country has taken control of the spread and is now included in the green list of countries to safely visit. “We have done things that are going in the right direction. We are still cautious, but we are already enjoying the fruits of our effective …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has issued the updated list of “Green List” destinations. Vaccinated travellers arriving from these destinations will be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures after landing in Abu Dhabi and will be required to undergo PCR testing upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport, as well as another PCR test on day 6. Unvaccinated travellers arriving from these countries are exempt from mandatory quarantine but will also need to undergo PCR testing on arrival, as well as two further PCR tests on day 6 and 12.   Countries, regions, and territories included within the “Green List” will be regularly updated based on international developments. Inclusion in the list is subject to strict criteria of health and safety to ensure the well-being of the UAE community. The list also only applies to countries travellers are arriving from, rather than citizenship.   Please note below the updated “Green List” as of 31 July 2021 at 14:00pm UAE local time:   Albania Armenia Australia Austria Bahrain Belgium Brunei Bulgaria Canada China Czech Republic Germany Hong Kong (SAR) Hungary Israel Italy Maldives Mauritius Moldova New Zealand Poland Romania Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles Singapore South Korea Switzerland Taiwan, Province of China Ukraine United States of America   More information on the “Green List” can be found on www.visitabudhabi.com. DCT Abu Dhabi will also continue to issue updates on the list and overall travel status in the coming months.  

München Tourismus, the official tourism office of Munich, is enticing GCC nationals and residents to explore its hidden gems and cultural experiences as part of the German National Tourism Board’s (GNTB) German.Local.Culture. campaign. The campaign highlights Germany’s unique cultural flair through four essential elements including craft featuring traditional customs and craftsmanship; taste where travellers are encouraged to explore regional cuisine, flair including historical culture of the city, and green which deep dives into pure nature and green sustainability offerings. “The German.Local.Culture campaign provides travellers with a range of ideas to explore new regional cultural traditions, cuisines, and a diverse range of activities,” says Yamina Sofo, Director Sales & Marketing at the German Tourism National Office. “We look forward to welcoming travellers from across the Gulf region to experience Germany’s wealth of offerings.” Germany began welcoming European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved, fully vaccinated travellers on 25 June. All travellers are advised to check individual German states entry requirements before travel. “Following the news that fully vaccinated international travellers can now fly to Germany, the summer presents an ideal opportunity to explore Munich’s rich, cultural history, which provides something for everyone to enjoy,” says Clemens Baumgärtner, governing member of Munich’s city council and responsible for the activities of München Tourismus. “We encourage travellers to experience the city’s traditional professions and the people who are redefining their centuries-old craft, as well as enjoying views from vantage points across Munich.” Travellers can enjoy the summer breeze above the city lights of Munich at a range of rooftop lounges, perfect to watch the colourful German sunsets. The Blue Spa Lounge Terrace at the Five Star Hotel Bayerischer Hof is a classic hotspot where guests can …

Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Visit Graubunden have announced a partnership to promote Graudbunden region in Switzerland as an ideal destination for summer activities amongst GCC residents. Through joint online direct promotional activities, GCC travelers will be encouraged to book and save on flights and hotel rooms available through Wego.com app or website to experience the Swiss Lakes of Graubunden. The campaign also aims to inspire the region’s travelers to discover the interplay between pristine wilderness and top notch, modern tourism infrastructure from tranquil mountain villages to the sleek and sophisticated hotels in St. Moritz, Lenzerheide, Vals, Flims/Laax or Bad Ragaz. Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, commented: “We are thrilled to work with Visit Graubunden to jointly showcase the beauty of Switzerland’s Graubunden landscapes and rich heritage. The Swiss beauties are abundantly popular around the world, we are confident that this campaign will support the post COVID-19 recovery of the Swiss tourism sector and inspire more GCC travelers to visit Graubunden this summer.” Wego presents a personalized and informative travel guide to Graubunden attractions including the region’s lakes, Swiss National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, family activities including trips to Heidi’s land, as well as hiking tracks and accommodation options, seeking to convert interest into bookings. Tamara Löffel-Jäger, Head of Business Development Visit Graubunden commented: “We are delighted to be working with Wego on this important campaign. The GCC market is key to Graubunden and with the news of quarantine free travel from the GCC to Switzerland we are looking forward to welcoming our guests from the region with open arms.” Graubunden is a great destination all …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the launch of the first official Public Profile for a tourism board on leading social media platform Snapchat – giving potential travellers the chance to explore everything that the capital of the UAE has to offer in a new and immersive way. Public Profiles give brands the ability to have an organic presence on Snapchat, housing all their unique content in one discoverable place. Acting as a portal to unlock everything the region has to offer, the Visit Abu Dhabi Public Profile will provide subscribers with exclusive travel information for Abu Dhabi, showcasing the wide variety of things to do during a stay in the emirate, whilst bringing the beauty of the destination to life in an interactive new format. At a time when travel is slowly opening up, the new official Public Profile is ideal for those planning an upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi, offering a glimpse of the destination from the comfort of their own homes – and phones. There will be a wealth of content to explore, be it uncovering the beauty of Al Ain via the Highlights section or simply experiencing the capital in real-time via Stories or Community Snaps. Public Profiles were launched by Snapchat in 2020 and have had great success in bringing a brand’s story to life. The move from DCT Abu Dhabi marks the launch of the first official tourist board profile and it’s likely other tourist boards will follow suit as they look to welcome tourists back. Social channels have been a popular vehicle to engage potential travellers – inspiring wanderlust by making global destinations accessible to …

Mauritius has opened its borders to international travellers, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated, from 15 July 2021. Phase 1 of reopening of the borders for the Indian Ocean Island will run until 30 September 2021 and allows vaccinated guests to stay in one of 14 chosen “resort bubbles”. Holidaymakers will have access to all facilities of the chosen hotel including the swimming pool and beach. If guests stay for 14 days and have negative PCR tests during their stay, then they may also travel around the island freely for the rest of their stay. However, for shorter stays, they may leave the resort earlier and travel back home. The approved Covid-19 safe resorts is available on: www.mauritiusnow.com The decision to reopen Mauritius came following the successful acceleration of the country’s vaccination programme. International tourism represents a large amount of the nation’s GDP and the Mauritian government took the decision in January to include tourism workers and hotel staff as frontline workers to ensure visitors will be welcomed into a safe and secure environment. Hon. Steven Obeegadoo, Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius and Minister of Tourism, said: “Mauritius is delighted to be welcoming international visitors into our safe and secure environment on the island. We are in a unique position to be able to allow international visitors, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated, to our resort bubbles and quarantine hotels before allowing guests to experience the island’s attractions. “The safety and security of Mauritian citizens, residents, and those visiting the island is paramount and we are grateful to those who have cooperated throughout the pandemic to make this possible. The acceleration of our vaccination programme has enabled us to partially reopen our borders and …

Umbrella Beach, an ambitious tourism project now underway on the eastern coast of the UAE, appears set to put the Emirate of Fujairah on the international tourism map. Slated for completion later this year, the project’s first phase will include at least 15 storefronts, to be eventually followed by a range of upscale retail outlets, restaurants, and other tourist-friendly attractions. “As one of the UAE’s smaller emirates, Fujairah is frequently overlooked by tourists and visitors to the country,” project manager Abdullah Taleb says. “The Umbrella Beach project plans to rectify this by drawing attention to Fujairah’s vast tourism potential, including its striking modernity, impressive work ethic, and breathtaking natural beauty.” ‘Something for Everyone’ Located on the Fujairah corniche, Umbrella Beach will afford visitors access to the area’s pristine beaches on the scenic Gulf of Oman. Promising an all-in-one leisure experience, the project is spearheaded by a team of leading brands and developers, all of whom are keen to present Fujairah as a world-class tourism and shopping destination. In addition to high-end retailers, restaurants, and cafes, Umbrella Beach will ultimately feature a drive-in cinema, wall-climbing area, basketball/volleyball courts, and jogging trails, along with recreational spaces for children and adults. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a multitude of beachside activities, including watersports, jet skiing, parasailing, and more. “Umbrella Beach will have something for everyone, regardless of age, nationality or background,” Abdullah Taleb explains. “Along with local visitors from Fujairah and the next-door Emirate of Sharjah, we hope to draw tourists from all over the region – and the world.” UAE Tourism: ‘More than Just Dubai, Abu Dhabi’ With the launch slated for later this year, the project hopes to combine …

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Philippines has pledged its support for the continuity of the infrastructure programme of the Duterte administration, saying it is a big boost to tourism activities in the country. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat made the commitment recently, as she joined President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Senator Bong Go, Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Secretary Vince Dizon in inspecting the completed New Terminal Building of the Clark International Airport, which is considered to be part of the legacy of the Duterte administration’s ambitious Build, Build, Build programme. “Having world-class air, land and sea infrastructure such as the Clark Airport will help Philippine tourism bounce back sooner,” Puyat said. The operations and management of the Clark Airport will be overseen by the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD), a consortium between Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., and Philippine Airport Ground Solutions (PAGSS) Inc. Boosting air connectivity is classified as one of the priorities of the DOT under the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2016 to 2022, hence the significance of Clark Airport’s new terminal building completion, Puyat added. Tourist arrivals in Clark Airport totalled 1.98 million in 2019, which dropped to just 494,387 in 2020 and 51,584 in the first half of 2021 because of travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Estimated tourist receipts stood at just Php 6.23 billion in 2020 and Php 2.32 billion for far in 2021, a notable reduction from the recorded Php 19.66 billion in 2019. The Department stressed that the fastest way to restore tourism to pre-pandemic levels is to ensure that tourism destinations and establishments comply with the necessary …